Christy Kuplic, Managing Director of PLE & Amour
“Romance travel isn’t just about logistics or transactions: it’s about trust, emotion, and once-in-a-lifetime moments. Amour is designed to reflect that,” says Christy Kuplic, Managing Director of Private Luxury Events, as we begin our exclusive interview.
Essentially, at its core, Amour exists as a unique platform to create meaningful connections in a sector that is exquisitely personal in a most profound way. For those discovering the show for the first time, its purpose within the luxury travel industry is clear. As Kuplic and her team like to say: Amour is ‘Romance travel’s little black book’. That is the most accurate way to describe this love story of a show.
Taking place in Venice, one of Italy’s most loving and charming cities, Amour brings together an exceptional mix of properties and destinations along with top destination wedding planners, luxury travel designers and leading creatives from all over the world. “It’s where the people you really want to meet are all in one place, all coming together with a shared focus on creating truly magical celebrations”, says Kuplic.
Essentially, at its core, Amour exists as a unique platform to create meaningful connections in a sector that is exquisitely personal in a most profound way. For those discovering the show for the first time, its purpose within the luxury travel industry is clear. As Kuplic and her team like to say: Amour is ‘Romance travel’s little black book’. That is the most accurate way to describe this love story of a show.
Taking place in Venice, one of Italy’s most loving and charming cities, Amour brings together an exceptional mix of properties and destinations along with top destination wedding planners, luxury travel designers and leading creatives from all over the world. “It’s where the people you really want to meet are all in one place, all coming together with a shared focus on creating truly magical celebrations”, says Kuplic.
Today, this dazzling show has become the global, must-attend event for romance luxury travel, and its philosophy, based on a ‘Heart to Heart’ approach instead of the standard B2B we all know, matches the tone sublimely. But what does that mean in practice during the event? Kuplic explains that this H2H concept sits at the very core of Amour: “It’s about recognising that behind every business meeting is a person. In practice, it means creating an environment where connections feel personal and conversations can go beyond the surface. That comes from a balance of structured meetings and more relaxed, shared moments. Because when people feel comfortable, when there’s a genuine spark, the conversations become more meaningful, and that’s where the best partnerships begin”.
With time, romance travel has grown into a distinct segment within the luxury travel industry, and needless to say, it deserved its own dedicated show. It was 2017 when the team first launched Amour, realising that this sector desperately needed its own space. “It didn’t quite fit into broader luxury travel events; the dynamics are different, the relationships are deeper, and the stakes are often far more emotional. So, we created Amour to bring those people together in a way that felt more relevant, more focused, and ultimately more meaningful. And over time, it’s grown into a community that people genuinely feel a part of,” she says.
Kuplic agrees that romance travel has evolved enormously in recent years. However, she adds, this also means “the expectations are higher, experiences are more considered, and the level of detail involved is incredible”.
This is all taken into account when crafting their show, which takes place over the course of three full days in a grand venue in Italy - this year, at the JW Marriott Venice -. Each day has been carefully organised to spark up both instant connections and valuable business, Kuplic insists: “Our attendees all attend up to 43 one-to-one meetings. These meetings are pre-matched based on preferences from both sides, so there’s a strong level of alignment from the outset. Beyond that, there are shared experiences in the afternoon. They are creative, active and educational ways to get to know one another. It’s often in those in-between moments where the real magic happens, where conversations flow more freely and relationships start to take shape”.
With time, romance travel has grown into a distinct segment within the luxury travel industry, and needless to say, it deserved its own dedicated show. It was 2017 when the team first launched Amour, realising that this sector desperately needed its own space. “It didn’t quite fit into broader luxury travel events; the dynamics are different, the relationships are deeper, and the stakes are often far more emotional. So, we created Amour to bring those people together in a way that felt more relevant, more focused, and ultimately more meaningful. And over time, it’s grown into a community that people genuinely feel a part of,” she says.
Kuplic agrees that romance travel has evolved enormously in recent years. However, she adds, this also means “the expectations are higher, experiences are more considered, and the level of detail involved is incredible”.
This is all taken into account when crafting their show, which takes place over the course of three full days in a grand venue in Italy - this year, at the JW Marriott Venice -. Each day has been carefully organised to spark up both instant connections and valuable business, Kuplic insists: “Our attendees all attend up to 43 one-to-one meetings. These meetings are pre-matched based on preferences from both sides, so there’s a strong level of alignment from the outset. Beyond that, there are shared experiences in the afternoon. They are creative, active and educational ways to get to know one another. It’s often in those in-between moments where the real magic happens, where conversations flow more freely and relationships start to take shape”.
Finally, Amour comes to a beautiful close every evening with glamorous night gatherings that bring everyone together in a more relaxed way. On the last one, the team celebrates its popular and standout awards evening, The Love Travel Awards, recognising the best in the industry and their achievements (based on their brand’s values). This is truly a one-of-a-kind evening full of spectacular fashion, pride, and celebration.
But despite its grandeur, Amour remains quite intimate in scale and essence, and that influences the great quality of interactions. “The scale is very deliberate. Keeping it intimate allows us to be highly selective, which creates a certain energy in the room. People know they’re surrounded by others who are serious, passionate, and aligned in how they work. It also means you’re not trying to meet hundreds of people in a short space of time. Instead, you’re having fewer, but far more meaningful conversations. And those are the ones that tend to lead to long-term partnerships,” Kuplic says.
But despite its grandeur, Amour remains quite intimate in scale and essence, and that influences the great quality of interactions. “The scale is very deliberate. Keeping it intimate allows us to be highly selective, which creates a certain energy in the room. People know they’re surrounded by others who are serious, passionate, and aligned in how they work. It also means you’re not trying to meet hundreds of people in a short space of time. Instead, you’re having fewer, but far more meaningful conversations. And those are the ones that tend to lead to long-term partnerships,” Kuplic says.
Christy Kuplic presenting The Love Travel Awards
When it comes to exhibitors, those the benefit most will be the ones offering something truly distinctive, whether that’s a unique destination, an exceptional property, or a highly tailored service. “We bring together a curated mix of luxury hotels, boutique properties, venues, destinations, and DMCs, all of whom are looking to connect with buyers who value quality and attention to detail as much as they do. In terms of scale, we typically host around 100 exhibitors, which allows us to keep that balance between variety and intimacy,” she adds.
On the other hand, buyers attending Amour are primarily destination wedding planners, luxury travel designers, and honeymoon specialists operating at the highest level. Kuplic explains: “They’re decision-makers, working with high-value clients, and actively placing business. We have a thorough vetting process in place, looking at factors such as client profile, annual spend, and relevance to the exhibitors attending to ensure there’s a strong fit on both sides. We usually welcome around 110 buyers, which allows for meaningful one-to-one engagement throughout the event”.
Often described as a place where perfect business matches are made, connections during Amour always come down to both purpose and environment, adds the event’s Managing Director. Yes, the matching process among attendees is thoughtful and key to it all, but the feeling of the event itself is also paramount. In this event, people generally feel and are more open, engaged, and more willing to connect beyond the surface level. “Over time, that’s created something that feels more like a community than a traditional trade show. People return because of the relationships they’ve built, and because those relationships genuinely lead to something valuable”, says Kuplic.
On the other hand, buyers attending Amour are primarily destination wedding planners, luxury travel designers, and honeymoon specialists operating at the highest level. Kuplic explains: “They’re decision-makers, working with high-value clients, and actively placing business. We have a thorough vetting process in place, looking at factors such as client profile, annual spend, and relevance to the exhibitors attending to ensure there’s a strong fit on both sides. We usually welcome around 110 buyers, which allows for meaningful one-to-one engagement throughout the event”.
Often described as a place where perfect business matches are made, connections during Amour always come down to both purpose and environment, adds the event’s Managing Director. Yes, the matching process among attendees is thoughtful and key to it all, but the feeling of the event itself is also paramount. In this event, people generally feel and are more open, engaged, and more willing to connect beyond the surface level. “Over time, that’s created something that feels more like a community than a traditional trade show. People return because of the relationships they’ve built, and because those relationships genuinely lead to something valuable”, says Kuplic.
As mentioned earlier, this year the show will take place in Venice once again, a location that the team at PLE holds dear: “Venice is very special to us. It’s where Amour began, so there’s a sense of coming home. It’s also one of the most romantic destinations in the world, which makes it a natural fit. The event itself is centred at the JW Marriott Venice, which sits on its own private island. So there’s a sense of privacy and immersion, but also a chance to explore the city through shared experiences - and, of course, the evenings, which take place in some of Venice’s most iconic venues. It also means buyers have the opportunity to experience the destination through the lens of their clients, and exhibitors get to converse and connect with buyers in a much more natural way”.
On the last day, Amour becomes the most elegant host for The Love Travel Awards, a true highlight of the show that celebrates the very best in romance travel, be it the people, properties, or the destinations that are setting the bar. However, Kuplic explains that, just as importantly, this is a moment for the community to come together and recognise each other’s value and hard work. Everyone gives in to a real sense of pride and celebration of one another, which is, ultimately, what Amour is all about. “Over time, we’ve introduced new categories, including Champion of Equality and Love in Action. We love seeing the excitement build throughout the process; from nominations to voting, and of course, the celebrations on the night itself. The winners place a great deal of value on these awards, and we’re proud to be able to celebrate our community in this way,” she adds.
On the last day, Amour becomes the most elegant host for The Love Travel Awards, a true highlight of the show that celebrates the very best in romance travel, be it the people, properties, or the destinations that are setting the bar. However, Kuplic explains that, just as importantly, this is a moment for the community to come together and recognise each other’s value and hard work. Everyone gives in to a real sense of pride and celebration of one another, which is, ultimately, what Amour is all about. “Over time, we’ve introduced new categories, including Champion of Equality and Love in Action. We love seeing the excitement build throughout the process; from nominations to voting, and of course, the celebrations on the night itself. The winners place a great deal of value on these awards, and we’re proud to be able to celebrate our community in this way,” she adds.
Kuplic’s role as the show’s Managing Director is to ensure that Amour continues to evolve in line with the needs of the industry. As she puts it: “Romance travel is constantly changing, and to lead it, rather than simply keep up with it, requires both vision and passion. That means staying creative, collaborating closely with partners, exploring new destinations, and staying in tune with what our community needs”.
That said, what she truly enjoys most is being witness to the connections that flourish there: “Watching people meet for the first time and then hearing, months later, about the partnerships or projects that came out from it - that’s incredibly rewarding”.
For attendees, building those strong, trusting connections in a setting such as Amour and, more importantly, taking care of them in the long run, is what should be top of mind. As Kuplic said, trends in the romance travel industry are changing rapidly. “From the scale of celebration to the smallest detail, today’s travellers are looking for experiences that feel authentic, true to who they are, and grounded in personal meaning. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and our buyers and exhibitors share that mindset. Every celebration is tailored to the individual, and that requires a high level of creativity, understanding, and collaboration,” she says. Altogether, this naturally raises the bar for both planners and suppliers, which makes those industry relationships more important than ever before.
That said, what she truly enjoys most is being witness to the connections that flourish there: “Watching people meet for the first time and then hearing, months later, about the partnerships or projects that came out from it - that’s incredibly rewarding”.
For attendees, building those strong, trusting connections in a setting such as Amour and, more importantly, taking care of them in the long run, is what should be top of mind. As Kuplic said, trends in the romance travel industry are changing rapidly. “From the scale of celebration to the smallest detail, today’s travellers are looking for experiences that feel authentic, true to who they are, and grounded in personal meaning. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and our buyers and exhibitors share that mindset. Every celebration is tailored to the individual, and that requires a high level of creativity, understanding, and collaboration,” she says. Altogether, this naturally raises the bar for both planners and suppliers, which makes those industry relationships more important than ever before.
Looking ahead to Amour’s upcoming edition, held from 06 - 09 November 2026, Christy Kuplic and the PLE team are ecstatic to be returning to where it all began: Venice. But beyond this extraordinary destination, she is particularly excited about meeting the whole community again.
“Each year, the conversations deepen, the relationships grow, and new ideas start to take shape. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of the people and businesses shaping our industry, especially given the challenges of recent years and the environments in which they operate. That sense of connection and being part of something that continues to grow and strengthen is what makes Amour so rewarding to be a part of”.
“Each year, the conversations deepen, the relationships grow, and new ideas start to take shape. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of the people and businesses shaping our industry, especially given the challenges of recent years and the environments in which they operate. That sense of connection and being part of something that continues to grow and strengthen is what makes Amour so rewarding to be a part of”.
Zoila Checa
